{"id":1420,"date":"2023-06-06T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T09:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discovery-park.co.uk\/?p=1420"},"modified":"2023-08-29T14:52:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T14:52:19","slug":"top-5-tips-for-early-stage-life-science-companies-on-how-to-approach-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discovery-park.co.uk\/top-5-tips-for-early-stage-life-science-companies-on-how-to-approach-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Tips for Early Stage Life Science Companies on How to Approach Funding"},"content":{"rendered":"
By\u00a0Emma Palmer Foster<\/a>, Director of\u00a0Discovery Park Ventures<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since Discovery Park Ventures launched last year, I have listened to dozens of pitches from early-stage life sciences companies, most recently spun out from universities.<\/p>\n Being an investor has provided unique insights into how young companies can be taken seriously by funders. Of course, your science must be strong, the hypothesis exciting and with potential to scale, but that in itself is not enough.<\/p>\n Here are my five insights for early-stage companies to consider when thinking about funding and preparing to pitch to investors:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Build and utilise your network:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Find a mentor \u2013 Look for someone who is a \u2018critical friend\u2019, someone who will challenge your thinking and help you to navigate the inevitable bumps in the road.<\/span><\/p>\n The skills of business are very different from the skills of science. Successful start-ups identify mentors and collaborate with peers, building a network. Mentors can help you to navigate obstacles and overcome hurdles, as well as providing fresh perspective and valuable feedback before you pitch.\u00a0Renos Savva<\/a>, Head of Innovation at Discovery Park is the best of the best when it comes to mentoring and supporting new entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A good idea is not always a good business:\u00a0<\/strong>Put yourself into the mind of your investor and be sure to articulate clearly the commercial opportunity in your scientific discovery. How will you make money from your idea? And who will be your potential customer?<\/p>\n Approach pitches from the perspective of an investor, focusing on the problem your process or application can solve, and the benefits this could bring. All the companies who received investment from Discovery Park Ventures focused on the product and did not become over-enthused by the joy of discovery.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Understand the market:\u00a0<\/strong>Do your research \u2013 understand the size of your market. Are there any time constraints? Who are your competitors? What is your next milestone and where and when might your eventual exit be?<\/span><\/p>\n An investors\u2019 job is to probe for weaknesses, to identify where new technologies are adding unnecessary complexity or where start-ups have failed to research their competitors. Always take a step back to reflect on the bigger picture and how you play into it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n People matter:\u00a0<\/b>Much of the investment decision is based on who\u2019s in the team and what have they done previously. The investor needs to believe you have the drive and ambition to deliver, so demonstrate all the skills in your team, not just technical know-how!<\/p>\n Investors don\u2019t just look at the science, it\u2019s an investment in the people driving the business. This means showing your personality and demonstrating that your business ethic is as strong as your laboratory know-how.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Know your elevator pitch:\u00a0<\/strong>You must be able to clearly articulate your proposal in just a few minutes and remember that investors may not have a scientific background, so keep it smart and simple.<\/p>\n